At least three dead, several injured as blast hits train in Mastung

QUETTA: At least three people were killed and at least 10 others injured as an improvised explosives device (IED) was detonated near a stretch of railway track in the Dasht area of Balochistan’s Mastung district.

Rescue sources say three passengers are dead, while at least 10 others are injured. The injured were taken to Civil Hospital Quetta and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital for treatment. An emergency was also declared in Civil Hospital Quetta.

The explosion took place as the Quetta-Rawalpindi Jaffar Express, a passenger train, was passing. According to the Bomb Disposal Squad, 8 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

Faiz Muhammad Bugti, Divisional Superintendent of Railway said that the BDS had also scanned the tracks in order to avoid occurrence of another untoward incident.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Saifullah Chattha said, “Train service between Quetta and other parts of Balochistan have been restored.”

He also ordered that the blast victims be shifted from Civil Hospital Quetta to the Combined Military Hospital for medical treatment.

The Jaffar Express had earlier been stopped immediately after the attack.

Security has been tightened along the railway tracks from Quetta to Jaccobabad in the aftermath of the fresh terror attack.

FC and levies personnel have been guarding the track to ensure security of passengers.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The Jaffar Express has been targeted by similar IED attacks in the past.

Militants have targeted vital national installations and security forces in the province for over a decade. Mastung is considered one of the most sensitive and troubled districts of Balochistan.